Amusement device



Mar. 3. 1925. J 4,

J. P. LADEN mussusm DEVICE Filed llayilr 1924 s Sheets-Sheet '1 Lad'en mvzu-ron Armand WITNESS:

Mar. 3.- 1925. v J. P. LApEN AMUSEMENT DEVICE 'Fa1ed uay 31, 1924 3 SheetS-Sheef 2 EQQJWDK BY (HAVEN-Ton ATTORNEY Mat. 3. 1925. 1,528,154

J, I LADEN AIUSEHENT DEVICE Filed ll ay 31.41924 s Shuts-"Sheet s' Zaden/ v ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED- STATES.

PATIENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. LADEN, or LoUIsvILLE, KENTUCKY, AssIeNoR T0 :rosnrn s. nIcKsoN AND ,JOHN MANLY, BOTH 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

' 'Application' filed May 3 1, 1924. Serial No. 717,109.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAM s'P. LADEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have inventednew and useful Improvements in -Amusement :Devices, of which the following'is aspecification.

tion parks,'resorts and the like, and has for its object the provlslon of a novel device in the nature of a ,roller coaster track-way having a pronounced d1p therein and upon curs at great speed, it being furthermore intended that a plurality of the'tracloways be 7 arranged side by side so that there will be an effect of racing of the ferent tracks.

Another object is the provision of a device I of this character which is equipped withv a drive chain engaging the car at certain times for the purpose of elevating thecar to one end of the track, either to start the action only, or at periodic intervals such as when the car travels toward one end, a peculiar clutch and release mechanism being provided on the car cooperating with track carried stops. r v

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive to erect, reasonably safe'in use, amusing and entertaining, durable in service, anda eral improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and'advantages in view the invention consists in. the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in' This invention relates to amusementdewoes of that type extensively used lnirecreacars on the difgenthe car, the carbeing shown by dotted lines...

Figure 6 is an elevation of the catch mechanism looking at one side thereof.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the opposite side;

Figure 8 is a 8-8 of Figure 6. V o

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 99 of Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a suitable frame-work consisting of uprights 11, crossmembers 12 and truss rods 13. The upcross section on the line rights are ofcourse of different heights, as

shown, and are spaced whatever, distance apart is found advisable to givethe'requisite strength.- The frame carries a pair, or a series ifpreferred, of'tracks 14 which are inclined at one end, as shown at 15, which dip down to a pronounced degree at the centers, as shown at' 16, and which have their other ends of compound curved shape, as indicated at 17. I have shown only two of the tracks arranged side by side and of course there must be a similar frame-work for supporting the different units. It is of course. obvious'thjat it is not necessary to provide more than one track-way but in such case thepatronage would necessarily be greatly limited. 1

Extending along the inclined portion 15 of the track-way is. a drive chain 18 which is trained over sprockets 19 and 20 mounted upon suitable shafts 21 and'22, respectively,

located at the lower and'upper ends of the inclined'portion. Any suitable power device. may be utilized for driving this chain inthe direction of the arrow and various preferred clutch mechanisms and speed control devices may. also be used as will be found advantageous. This chain carries projections or hooks 23.

In connectlon with the track I make use I of a car 24 which has suitable rollers or wheels 25 travelmg upon the track-way and at its underside this car carries a catch de- -vice' adapted to be engaged by any one of the'hooks 23 for the purpose of elevating the car to the top of the incline. This catch device is of peculiar construction, as will be described, and is adapted to engage a trip 26 located at the top of the inclineand a trip 27 located at the top. of the p oi 'tion l7a The catch device for each car comprises a frame 28 consisting of a suitable number of parts and of proper shape-mounted in any desired manner. within a car at some suitable point, preferably at one end. This frame includes a depending sleeve 29 which projects below the bottoniof the car and,

which constitutes a combined housing and guide for a. catch 30 which has a beveled eud' l'and which is carried by. aplunger 32 slidable vertically through the frame and carrying adiskoriplate, 3,3 suitably securedat or near its upper end, Surrounding .the

plunger tlil'and engaging against the top of the frame 28 d of thegdisl't or plate ilii is. a. coil spring; 3%

which normally urges the plunger upward,-

Pivoted at 35'on ears 86 at thetop of the frame are arms 37 urged toward each other by a coll sprlng 38 and formed on their, con

fronting edge with shoulders. 3.9. adapted to be engaged by the ,disk33 forlholding the same, and consequently the plunger and catch, in lowered position agamstthe resistance of the spr ng 34:. Thev confronting edges of the arms37 are formed with curved Journale d through the frame. 28 and pro-.. jecting beyond one side: of thecarlis a rock shaft 41 carrying a depending trip, arm. 42 wliiclihas a pointed ei1d,4c8, and secured upon the shaft within the fraine is n arm. 4A- formed it'yitha slot.45 engaging a pin 4156 which projects laterally from the. plunger, 32. The operation ofthis structure ,willbe.

explained hereinafter.

Journaled tli'roiighthe upper portion of the frame28 and projectingbeyond the, op;

' posite sidef'of thecar, isa rock-shaft 47 carrying a dependinghrmAS atf its. outerfend, which arm'has a beveled end 49; lVithm the confines of the frame, the shaft. l7 carries a fork-like cam 50 which includes arm,

51 adapted to engageagainstrthe. carntfaces for forcing the arms 37 outwardly soth at, the shoulders 39 will disengage the disk 33 and permitthe plunger 32, and consequently. the catch 30, to more into: elevated position In the operation, the car initially at, the lowermostflplart 16 of the track and the pas-.

sengers board the car from anysuitableplat form or land ng stage, notshown Theicar is then pushed by an attendant toward the incline 15 so that one. of the hooks or proJections 23on the chainwill engage the catch 30, whereupon the ,ch aiii, traveling l 1'l,-tll-dl7- rection of the latter, will elevate the car to the top of the incline 15. 'Upon reaching.

this point, the arm e8 will engage the trip andfa'gainstthe underside the appearanccof racing.

26, whereupon the shaft 47 will be rocked and the cam correspondingly moved so that the arms 39 will be forced apart out of engagement with the disk 33, permitting the spring 34 to force the plunger upwardly. The result is that the catch 30 is withdrawn from engagement with the chain. The car then descends the incline 15'- gravitationally;

passes the lowest point 16 and travels upwardly along the compound curved end 17',

its momentum causing this travel. When the car. reaches the upper end of the portion 17, the trip arm 42 will engage the stop 27 so that the rock-shaft .41 will be rocked; the

corresponding movement.- ofQthe. arm. 4A

pushing, the plunger 32 downwardly until the disk .33 againsnaps-vbehind or below-v the retaining shoulders 39,..which actioncauses the, catch 23 0 to. be again. projected into suchposition that when-the, .car backs down the track portion 17 and starts onto the incline- 15, the catch 30 will again be engaged; by the chainl8 sothat the car will again be, dragged or pulledtothe; top ofithe incline until the; trip ,arm .48 l e-engages theflstop 26. Quite naturally, thigmovementv will continue and thecar will travel back and forth alongsthetrack until the proper number ofntrips haswiththe trip .arms a8 and.42, which clutch devices aresillustrated at 52"and. 53,'.respectively,.so thatthe. trip-might be. rendered inactive .by the attendant: riding within: the

car. .H'There is absolutely; no limitation as to. the exact manne r.1n \VhlChllillQ operation? may be carried out. The back and forthlIlOVGIllQIltDf the carand the dipping action will produce quite an exhilarating.- -thrill in;

the passengers .andthe ride..will thus b highly entertainingandamusing. f

In caseapluralityof the devices is used,

side bysideas indicated in Figure 1,-- it is apparent that-the entertainment tobe derived will be greatlyincreased-as the'cars I ,on the different successive trackswill have From.,the foregoing description anda study ofthe drawings, it will be apparent that I have thus-provided a simply con structed and consequently inexpensive amusement '(lQVLCB which will be ;very thrill ving and yet reasonably-safe in operation As the structure is so simple it is apparent that there is little to-get out of order so that the device,should-haveaa long life and satis factorily perform allof its functions.

7 not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. I

I claim: I 1. An amusement device comprising an elevated structure of requisite construction,

a track carried by said elevated structure and having one end inclined and its other end of compound curved shape with the mtermediate portion having a pronounced dip, a drive chain traveling along said inc ined portion, and a car traveling upon the track and provided with means for gripping the chain to effect elevation of the car to the top of the incline, the gripping device consisting of projections carried by the chain, a releasable catch device mounted on the car and engageable with the chain, and stops at both ends of the track for controlling the catch device.

2. An amusement device comprising an elevated structure of requisite construction, a track carried by said elevated structure and having its intermediate portion lowermost and its ends inclined, a drive chain trave ing along one incline and carrying projections, a catch device on the car for cooperation with said projections, a stop at the upper end of the incline equipped with the drive chain for releasing the catch device, and a stop at the other end of the track for resetting the catch whereby the catch will be in condition to again grip the chain.

3. An amusement device comprising an elevated structure of requisite construction, a track carried by said elevated structure and having its intermediate portion lowermost and its ends inclined, a drive chain traveling along one incline and carrying projections, a catch device on the car for cooperation with said projections, a stop at the upper end of the incline equipped with the drive chain for releasing the catch device, and a stop at the other end of the track for resetting the catch, the catch device including a vertically movable upwardly spring-pressed plunger, a rock-shaft carrying a trip arm and an arm having a slot and pin connection with the plunger, a disk on the upper end of the plunger, a pair of pivoted arms spring-pressed toward each other and having shoulders engageable with the disk for holding the plunger in lower position, and a second roclr-shaft carrying a trip arm and a cam disposed between said last named arms for forcing them apart to release the disk.

at. In an amusement, device including an elevated structure carrying a track having its intermediate portion lowermost and its ends inclined, a drive chain traveling along from one incline and carrying projections, a car, mounted. for movement along the track, acatch device carriedby the car and including a normally spring pressed plunger, retaining means normally-holding said plunger in lowered position, a trip for releasing said retaining means, and a stop at the top ofeaoh inclined end" of the track engageable by the trip, the stop at the incline equipped with the chain acting to release the catch and the other stop acting to effect resetting thereof.

5. In an amusement device including a track having an intermediate low portion and having both ends upwardly inc-lined, a drive chain traveling along one incline and having projections, a car adapted to move back and forth upon the track, a catch device mounted on the car for cooperation with the projections on the chain and includin a normally upwardly spring presse plimger, retaining means normally holding said plunger in lowered'position in the path of movement of the projections on the-chain, a trip operatively connected with said retaining means and movable to release the same, a stop at the upper end of the incline equipped with the drive chain engageable by said trip for releasing the retaining means and permit the. plunger to move upwardly, a second trip; connected with the plunger, and a stop at the other end of the I track engageable by the second named trip whereby to effect resetting of the catch.

6. In an amusement device comprisin an elevated trackway having an interme iate portion and having both ends upwardly inclined, a drive chain movable along one incline, a car mounted for movement along the trackway, a catch device on the car including a normally upwardly spring pressed plunger, spring pressed retaining means cooperating With said plunger for holding the same in lowered position against the spring tension, a rocker element cooperating with said retaining means for disengaging the same and having an actuating trip, a stop at the top of the incline equipped with the drive chain engageable by said trip for releasing said retaining means, a rocker elementconnected with the plunger formoving the same downwardly and including a trip, and a stop at the top of the other incline engageable by the second named trip for operating the second named rocker member and resetting the catch.

7. In an amusement, device including a trackway having its intermediate portion low and having both ends upwardly inclined, a drive chain traveling along one incline, a car mounted for movement along the trackway, a chain clutching device carried by the car and including a frame, an upwardy spring pressed plunger slidably mounted within the frame and l adapted 'to cooperate with pro-jectio'ns on the chain lateral-1y movable retaining elements acting normally behold the plunger-in loweredp'o sition against the springtension thereon, rocker means engaging saidnfetainin'g elements forurgingthem I ap'alre 50' releasefhe p1unger,- said rocker means =ine1uding an actuating trip, a Stop at the top'nf'th instep *ledtfedf' (were-mop 6f the ether incline 

